If bottle feeding from birth, it is important that colostrum is fed to cria within 6 hours of birth and then for at least 2 days.
If alpaca colostrum is not available then colostrum from deer, goats or cows may be used. Alternatively, Jumpstart™ Full Cream Colostrum is available from your rural retailer.
Feeding recommendations
- Unlike many other infant animals, cria will stop feeding when they are full, so it is best to offer them more than you expect them to drink.
- Mix 200 grams of Anlamb™ milk replacer (LMR) per litre of water.
- Add Anlamb™ milk replacer (LMR) to one third of the required volume of water and mix thoroughly.
- Top up with water to the correct volume and temperature.
- Clean fresh water should be available at all times.
Anlamb™ feeding guidelines for cria
These tables are a guide only.
| Age | Feeds per day | Volume per feed (mL) | Jumpstart™ grams per feed (g) | Anlamb grams per feed (g) | Daily volume (L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 6 | 150mL | 20g | - | 0.9L |
| 2-4 days | 6 | 150mL | 10g | 15g | 0.9L |
| 5-7 days | 4 | 250mL | - | 50g | 1.0L |
| 8-21 days | 3 | 300mL | - | 60g | 0.9L |
| Day 22 to weaning | 3 | 350mL | - | 70g | 1.1L |
- Some rearers have reported increasing this concentration if weight gain is not adequate.
- Cria should be fed colostrum for atleast the first 2 days. Anlamb™ should only be fed during this time if no form of colostrum is available.
- Bottle fed cria often wean themselves earlier than naturally suckled cria. This may happen from around 3 months.